Ngani Laumape

Ngani Laumape made his All Blacks Test debut in 2017 coming off the back of a stunning Super Rugby season where he topped the try-scoring list with 15 tries.

He made an assured Test debut against the British & Irish Lions, scoring an outstanding try in the third Test and went on to make three appearances later in the Rugby Championship.

Palmerston North-born Laumape attended Palmerston North Boys’ High School and toured the UK and Thailand with the school’s First XV. He was selected to play second- five for the New Zealand Schools team in 2011.

Despite his early rugby success, Laumape made the decision to sign with the Warriors rugby league team when he left school and by 2014 he was an established starter in the squad.

The following year he investigated a return to rugby and he made his Investec Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes in the opening match of the 2016 season. He went on to make 11 appearances, including seven starts, to help the Hurricanes to the club’s inaugural Super Rugby title.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus believes his side's underdog status will make preparing to play the All Blacks easier in Wellington on Saturday but New Zealand coach Steve Hansen knows the strength of the old rivalry will make South Africa dangerous.
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